Lengthy voice mail messages lead to charge

GIRARD -- City officials usually want to hear citizens' concerns and comments, but one man seems to have taken it a bit too far.
Tommy Riggs, no age listed, of North Benton, Mahoning County, surrendered to police and was arraigned Wednesday on a felony charge of disrupting public services.
Police said Riggs has been calling the city voice mail system since mid-January and leaving long, rambling messages that have nothing to do with city business. Reports say the messages would continue until no room is left on the messaging services.
Police reports say many of the messages refer to the Middle East or contain racial slurs.
Officials sent Riggs a certified letter in February asking that he "cease and desist" from making the phone calls but that was returned to the city as "no service," reports said.
Police also called Riggs and asked that he stop calling. Riggs told officers he would stop, but he didn't, reports said.
Detective Greg Manente said Riggs has not made any threats in the calls.
Riggs was released on $1,250 bond. As a condition of bond, Riggs cannot make any calls to the city, its officers or employees. No date has been set for his next court appearance.